Automatic trough-valve



F. STRIEGLER.

AUTOMATIC- TROUGH VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2:. 191a.

Patented July 20, 1920.

- UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

FRITZ STRIEGLER, OF MoKAVETT, TEXAS.

' Application filed May 21,

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FRITZ STRIEGLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort McKavett, in the county of Menard and State of, Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Trough-Valves,of which the following is a specification. I g

This invention relates to new and useful, improvements in animal watering troughs and theprimary object of the invention is to provide a new and useful improvement in an automatic floatcontrol valve for use in connection with the trough. f

An object of theinvention is to provide a controlling valve and mechanism therefor which will automatically maintain the. water level in the wateringtr'ough, and which is adapted to prevent the water from overflowing therein should the controlling portion .of the mechanism break by automaticallyclosing the inlet and preventing water from flowing'into the trough.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a device of this character .which is adapted for. application to the conventional; type of animal drinkingtrough, and which "may be easily applied thereto with no change-to the construction of the same.

, Ai still further object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this character which is easily and simply constructed, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very efficient in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be herein referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a watering trough, showing my improved valve controlling mechanism applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

In describing my invention, I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The numeral 1 designates a portion of the tank which is i provided with a bottom 2 through which is mounted the inlet pipe 3 that projectsupi Specification of Letters Patent.

end of the inlet spaced arms 6 and 7 that extend are inverted and AUTOMATIC TRQUGH-VALVE.

wardly through the bottom of the tank a short distance andhas its upper end externally threaded.

Adapted to be positioned on the inlet pipe 3 within the tank l is an upstandingrframe 4 which has its base portion 5 internally threadechand adapted for cooperative engagement with the screw threaded upper pipe and said frame is provided with a pair of substantially upwardly therefrom at diametrically opposite points on the base portion 5 and are connected at their upper ends as shown at 8. These arms the construction thereof'is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and2of the drawings. The base portion 5 of the frame 18 provided with. an inwardly extending annular flange 9- adjacent the lower edge thereof, which is adapted to seat on a gasket ,is a normally horizontally disposed operating lever 13 which has a weight 14 on one end. thereof while the other end is bentiin wardly and then arcuately to form an arouate rack 15 provided with a plurality of spaced apertures .therethrough. This last mentioned end of the lever 13 has pivotally connected therewith a rod 16 that is movable across the arcuate rack 15 and which has on its outer extremity a float 17 said float having a plug 18 associated therewith so that oil or a similar substance lighter than water may be positioned therein.

The frame '4: has pivotally connected therewith on the side opposite from which the lever 13 is mounted, a lever 19 which is horizontally disposed and extending across said frame and being connected by a link 20 with the lever 13. This lever 19 is likewise connected' by a link 21 with the upper end of the valve stem 11. By this construction, it is U-shaped obvious that upon movement downwardly of the armof the lever 18 which carries the, float 17 the said movement will be transmitted to the valve 12 through the stem 11 and hence forcing said valve downwardly, and opening. the same to permit water to flow into the trough.

In Fig. 1 the tank has the consumption of the same by the animals, the float 17 will become exposed and consequently increase in weight. The incounterbalancing weight 14: begins to act, moving'the lever 13 back to its normal horizontal position as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Attention is particularly directed to the fact that in the operation of this valve mechanism for controlling the flow of water,

should the operating lever break or fail to 'work instead of the valve opening and permitting an uninterrupted flow ofv water into the trough the vvalve 12 will automatically close bythe' pressure of the water forcing the'same inthe seat 9, and hence any waste of water will be prevented. The float I 17 is adjustable on the end of the operating lever 13 so that-the depth of the water in the trough may be adjusted accordingly.

' From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is thought that aclear and comprehensive understanding offthe construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had, and while "I have. shown and described the device-as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said'structur'e been shown as full and the float controlling mechanism in its; position to close the valve 12. Should the water level lower in the tank 1 owing to as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

' Havingfully described myiinvention, what I claim is new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: V

1. The combination with a troughhaving Y aninlet pipe-extending therein, of a valve normally seated by water pressure for regulating theinflow of water from the pipe, a horizontal operating lever'connected with the valVe, a submerged counter balancing weight on one end of the 1ever,ancl a normally submerged float attheopposite end of the lever, the weight of the float when submerged being the same or-slightly less than that of the counter-balance and greater than that of the counter-balance when resting on the surface of the water whereby *to move the lever and unseat-the valvewhen the surface of the waterfalls below said 2 The combination jwith trough having anlinlet pipe extending therein, of a' valve normally seated; by water pressure for regulating the inflow ofwater from the p1pe,"a horizontal operating lever connected with the valve and normally in a neutral positio'n' with respect thereto, a submerged counter-balancing weight on one; end. of the lever,-'a normally submerged float at the oppo'site end of the lever, the weight of the float when submerged. being the same or slightly less than the jcounterrbala nce in orderv to maintain the lever in a non-operating positionwith-respect to the valve and of a weight greater-than thecounter-balance when resting onthesurfaceof the Water whereby to move the'fleverfand unseat the valve against the action [of the counter balance when the surface ofthe wat'er falls therebe- 1 low, and means for regulating the idisposi- M tion of the float on the lever toincrease or decrease the normal depth of theiwater' i thetankg In testimony whereof I j i n hereto.

. RITZ STBIEGLER. 

